Hell Squad was almost as surprised as the clanckers when they saw Talz and Pantorans fighting together. But they were used to improvising, and a bunch of confused droids was an opportunity they wouldn't let go.
Dageer pushed the body he was holding, making two B1 units stumble, and pierced them with his vibroblade. His left hand used his DC-17 to fire at the nearby seppies, dropping three of them before they even had a chance to react. By his side, Hell Squad also got into the fray, killing almost twenty droids in a matter of seconds.
The once deadly, and seemingly impossible to survive, situation changed in an instant. The group that came to Hell Squad's rescue numbered over a thousand, composed mainly of Talz. The planet was their home, after all, so it was easy for them to gather more warriors.
...
Caught by surprise, the droids were quickly exterminated, but not before causing some casualties amongst the Talz and Pantorans. Hell Squad also didn't make it through intact.
"Hold on, brother. We just need to get you to the ship..."
Ignoring their own wounds and injuries, all of Hell Squad was gathered around Dab. The sniper was clutching his stomach in pain, and a small fillet of blood made it's way down his armor, painting the snow red.
Three-four was kneeling next to him, applying pressure on the wound while the other members of Hell Squad moved him into a BARC Speeder. Ignoring the crowd of Pantorans and Talz, Dageer gestured for Brain and Three-four to take Dab to their cruiser.
Watching the three clones speed away, only then did Dageer notice that Senator Amidala was by his side. He greeted her with a nod.
"Thank you, ma'am. If it wasn't for the reinforcements you brought, Hell Squad would be gone."
"I didn't bring them. I think they were already on their way to help us, although I am not sure how they knew we were in trouble."
The commander was slightly surprised, but Dageer wasn't one to dwell in needless thoughts. Hell Squad, and, more importantly, Senator Amidala, were alive, which meant they hadn't failed their mission. Regardless of the circ.u.mstances of their survival, the most important was that the peace negotiations could go on.
"Padmé, are you hurt? Are you all right?"
"I assure you I am okay, Senator Chuchi. I only received a scratch, nothing much, thanks to you. And also to you, Atyllii. Thank you very much."
Dageer had to admire Senator Amidala's professionalism. He had escorted and protected other civilians and politicians before, and most of them were scared and fearing for their lives. They could barely maintain a logical line of thought after being attacked. Not that human senator, though. Even after being shot, and surviving such a traumatic experience, she still was able to maintain an impartial posture, not showing favor to either side.
"May I ask how you knew we had been ambushed by the Separatist, Senator Chuchi?"
The Pantoran scratched her head, somewhat hesitant, before looking at the Talz's leader.
"His sentries saw Separatist droids killing a group of Talz. He thought they might have also attacked you, so he came to us, and here we are."
"Once again, I have to say I am grateful for your help. I hope that despite that incident, we can restart the negotiations tomorrow."
"Irggueow ishei. Ayeye... Talz je Pantorans terie."
"He said: That won't be necessary. Talz and Pantorans fought together, so they are friends now."
Senator Amidala and Senator Chuchi looked at the translator droid for a few seconds, stunned, before turning to the Talz. It was clear he was laughing, and happy.
The human senator stealthily elbowed Senator Chuchi, and the young Pantoran quickly bowed to Atyllii, showing her respect.
"It's our honor to be able to live alongside your noble people, great Atyllii."
Seeing how respectfully Senator Chuchi was behaving now, opposed to her angry speeches a few days ago, Dageer once again felt that politics were too much of a headache. He much preferred the battles and fights of the war. Painful as they might be, at least he didn't have to think too much.
--------------------------
"How am I looking, Three-four? Cough... Cough!"
"Not too good, Dab, I have to say. But you will pull through it, although it's going to leave a nasty scar."
"Haha... Another for the collection. What about you, commander? Did you mark the clancker that hit me?"
The entirety of Hell Squad was grouped around a bed in the medbay in their cruiser. The medical droid and Three-four had already patched up the sniper. Thanks to the painkillers, Dab had slept over thirty hours at once, only waking up not long ago. Now, with the peace treaty signed, they were returning to Coruscant, where he would receive proper care.
"Ha! How could I not?"
Tapping lightly on his shoulder pad, Dageer grinned, before ordering Hell Squad to disperse, and let Dab rest. Only the medical droid stayed with him.
"Is he going to survive, Commander Dageer?"
"Senator. Dab has been through worse. He will make it. All he needs is a couple days in a bacta-tank, and he will be back into the fight."
"Worse than that battle?"
"We all had our close calls, and near-death experiences. This time, we had supplies and a medical droid. Sometimes, we don't even have that."
"You are talking about Ryloth."
Dageer only nodded. There wasn't much to say.
"It must have been horrible... I can't imagine what you went through."
Senator Amidala looked at him with a troubled expression when she heard Dageer. The clone already knew that she had something else on her mind, but she didn't want - or didn't know how - to say it. He wouldn't be the one to pressure her.
"Commander... Anakin... I mean, Master Skywalker, asked me to give you a message."
The clone kept his silence, and waited. He wasn't surprised that General Skywalker sent a message to him, although it was weird he did it through Senator Amidala. However, the Jedi had always been close to the clones, treating them more like family than subordinates.
"He asked me to tell you that... Jedi Master Even Piell died, and that he is sorry. He knows you and Master Piell had a special relationship."
Shocked, surprised, and sad, Dageer's steps faltered for a moment before he straightened his back once again. He had fought a few battles alongside General Piell, but the truth was he didn't know the Jedi that well. However, he would never forget who gave him his name, who was the first person to look at him not as a clone, but as something else. As someone who deserved more than just a number.
"Thanks for telling me, ma'am."
Senator Amidala just nodded. She might not be a soldier, but she was good at reading the feelings of the people around her, and she could tell Dageer wasn't doing too well. Still, nothing that she could say would change that, and she figured that for a soldier like him, who was used to death, saying anything would be meaningless.
"We are arriving at Coruscant, commander, senator."
"Good. Then, I shall take my leave soon, Commander Dageer. If it weren't for Hell Squad, I would probably be dead. You have my gratitude."
"Just doing our job, Senator Amidala. Just doing our job."